Firearm shell casing

ABSTRACT

A dual use shell casing for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines includes an upper portion, a lower portion, an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the internal cavity configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile, and a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning into a reduced diameter neck portion, the reduced diameter neck portion having an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches. The tapered shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/783,024, filed Feb. 5, 2020, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/803,872, filed on Feb. 11, 2019. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to firearms and various accessories that improve the performance and operation of such firearms.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Rail systems are strips of metal or plastic attached to a firearm to allow the ready attachment of various accessories, such as scopes, lights, hand grips, among others. Often the rail system interferes with the ejection of spent cartridges. This ejection interference may be caused by installation errors or design deficiencies. Ejection interference can cause many issues including malfunction of the firearm and cartridge impacts to the operator.

Customized ammunition generally involves a customized cartridge size or a customized projectile diameter. One issue with custom ammunition is that the ammunition is difficult to acquire because the ammunition is not mass-produced. The lack of mass-produced ammunition increases the cost of the ammunition and reduces the ability to sell the firearm that uses the ammunition.

During normal operation of a firearm (e.g. firearm discharge), significant amounts of flash (light), heat, noise (acoustics), and pollutants (e.g. spent gunpowder) are produced. It is desirable to reduce the flash, heat, and noise to improve the concealment of the firearm operator. Various sound reducing devices are employed to reduce noise levels. Unfortunately, these devices often increase the firearm barrel temperature, decrease shot accuracy, increase firearm weight, increase firearm blowback, increase manufacturing complexity, alter firearm recoil behavior, increase the time between successive shots on target.

The present disclosure addresses the issues of ejection interference, mass production of customized ammunition, and firearm discharge, among other issues related firearm operation.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In one form, a dual use shell casing for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines includes an upper portion, a lower portion, an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the internal cavity configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile, and a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning into a reduced diameter neck portion, the reduced diameter neck portion having an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.

In variations of the dual use shell casing, which may be implemented individually or in combination: the tapered shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the dual use shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber; the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the dual use shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder; further including a primer pocket and a flash hole connecting the primer pocket to the internal cavity; wherein the tapered shoulder defines an acute angle relative to a central axis of the shell casing; wherein a wall thickness of the lower portion is greater than a wall thickness of the upper portion.

In another form, a dual use cartridge for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines includes a tapered shell casing including an upper portion, a lower portion, an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the internal cavity configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile, and a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning into a reduced diameter neck portion, the reduced diameter neck portion having an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, a projectile disposed within the internal cavity at the reduced diameter neck portion and secured therein, and gunpowder disposed within the internal cavity below the projectile, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.

In variations of the dual use cartridge, which may be implemented individually or in combination: the tapered shell casing shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the tapered shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber; the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder; the lower portion defines a primer pocket; further including primer compound disposed in the primer pocket; further including a primer cup configured to seal the primer compound in the primer pocket; the lower portion includes a shell casing rim; the gunpowder and the projectile define a gap therebetween; the tapered shoulder defines an acute angle relative to a central axis of the shell casing; a diameter of the projectile is smaller than a diameter of the lower portion; a wall thickness of the lower portion is greater than a wall thickness of the upper portion.

In another form, a dual use cartridge configured for use with a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines includes a tapered shell casing comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion and configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile, a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning to a reduced diameter neck portion, a primer pocket, and a flash hole connecting the primer pocket to the internal cavity, a projectile disposed within the internal cavity at the reduced diameter neck portion and secured therein, gunpowder disposed within the internal cavity below the projectile, a primer compound disposed in the primer pocket, and a primer cup configured to seal the primer compound in the primer pocket, wherein the reduced diameter neck portion has an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, and wherein the tapered shell casing shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.

In variations of the dual use cartridge, which may be implemented individually or in combination: the tapered shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the tapered shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber; the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a commercially available firearm cartridge;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional side view, taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A, of the commercially available firearm cartridge;

FIG. 2A is a side view and illustrates an exemplary shouldered cartridge, according to the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view, taken along line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A, of the shouldered cartridge, according to the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2C is an exploded view of the shouldered cartridge of FIG. 2B, according to the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2D is a perspective bottom view of the shouldered cartridge of FIG. 2A, according to the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of a commercially available firearm barrel;

FIG. 3B is a view of the firearm barrel of FIG. 3A with the commercially available firearm cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3C is a view of the firearm barrel of FIG. 3A with the shouldered cartridge of FIG. 2A, according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional side view and illustrates an exemplary firearm barrel with the shouldered cartridge of FIG. 2A, according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Referring to FIG. 1A and 1B, a commercially available cartridge 150 comprises at least one of a projectile 152, a shell casing 154, a shell casing rim 156, flash hole 158, a gunpowder cavity, gunpowder 160, a primer pocket 162, a primer cup 164, a primer compound 166, and a gunpowder-projectile gap 168. The shell casing 154 is a cone that slightly tapers from the shell casing rim 156 to the projectile 152. The degree of taper depends on the cartridge however, a 9 mm diameter shell casing tapers approximately 0.5 mm per 19 mm of length (+/−1 mm). The gunpowder cavity is adjacent to the flash hole 158; the flash hole 158 is adjacent to the primer pocket 162; and the gunpowder cavity and the primer pocket 162 on opposing ends of the flash hole 158.

The gunpowder cavity contains the gunpowder 160, the gunpowder-projectile gap 168, and the projectile 152. The projectile 152 is partially contained within the gunpowder cavity, and the gunpowder cavity is sealed by compressing the shell casing 154 around the projectile 152. The primer pocket 162 contains the primer compound 166 and the primer cup 164, and the primer cup 164 seals the primer pocket 162.

Now referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a shouldered cartridge 170 (also referred to as a “dual use cartridge”) according to the present disclosure is provided. The shouldered cartridge 170 comprises a projectile 172, a tapered shell casing 174 (also referred to as a “dual use casing”) generally defining an upper portion 175 and a lower portion 177, and a tapered shell casing shoulder 176. The shouldered cartridge 170 in this form further includes the shell casing rim 156, the flash hole 158, gunpowder 160′, primer pocket 162, primer cup 164, primer compound 166, a gunpowder-projectile gap 168′, and combinations thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2C and 2D, the tapered shell casing 174 includes the tapered shell casing shoulder 176, a wide-tapered diameter 178, and a narrow diameter 180 (reduced diameter neck portion). The wide-tapered diameter 178 extends from the shell casing rim 156 to the narrow diameter 180, and the tapered shell casing shoulder 176 transitions between the two diameters. The tapered shell casing shoulder 176 regulates the depth to which the cartridge slides into the barrel chamber. The wide-tapered diameter 178, the tapered shell casing shoulder 176, and the narrow diameter 180 are outer diameters of the tapered shell casing 74. In general, the length of the tapered shell casing 174 is longer than the standard casing by between 1 and 25.4 mm, in 0.5 mm increments, with a desired length of 4 mm longer. However, for certain applications, cartridges with more than 25.4 mm of additional shell casing will be desired. There is necessary variation due to the intended muzzle velocity and that a 12.7 mm cartridge will have a different additional length than a 5.56 mm cartridge. A wall thickness of the tapered shell casing 174 varies along its length such that the wall thickness is greater at the lower portion 177 than at the upper portion 175.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a commercially available firearm barrel 190 is provided. The commercially available firearm barrel 190 comprises a bore 192 and a barrel chamber 194 with a barrel chamber seat 196 between them. The bore 192 extends from the barrel chamber seat 196 to the end of the firearm barrel (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 3B, commercially available cartridge 150 is loaded within barrel chamber 194, with commercially available cartridge 150 coupling to the barrel chamber seat 196 and bore 192 forming a seal that allows gas pressure from firearm discharge to propel the projectile 152 properly (i.e., accurately) out of bore 192. The gas pressure propels the projectile 152 longitudinally and distally out of bore 192.

When shell casing 154 is loaded with a projectile (wildcat projectile) other than the projectile 152, a wildcat cartridge (not shown) is formed. The seal between the wildcat cartridge and the commercially available firearm barrel 190 is insufficient to direct the majority of the discharge pressure to propel the wildcat projectile longitudinally and distally out of the commercially available firearm barrel 190. An insufficient seal is formed between the shell casing 154, barrel chamber 194, and barrel chamber seat 196; thus, the majority of the discharge pressure is directed distally from the barrel chamber 194 towards the bore 192. Unfortunately, the insufficient seal also allows pressure to escape around the projectile, directed transverse to bore 192. The transverse discharge pressure creates excess Hoop stresses often causing shell casing 154 to rupture, often damaging at least one of the firearm, the operator, and the surrounding area also known as a misfire or malfunction. The projectile can also become jammed within bore 192 or the firing mechanism. Further, the majority of wildcat cartridges will not cycle the firearm action sufficiently to load another round.

Now referring to FIG. 3C, shouldered cartridge 170 is loaded within barrel chamber 194 and the tapered shell casing shoulder 176, narrow diameter 180, and bore 192 form a seal with barrel chamber seat 196 sufficient to propel projectile 172 out of bore 192, the seal is also sufficient to inhibit the transverse pressure and reducing the risk of malfunction. Further, the risk of damage to at least one of the firearm, the operator, and the surrounding area is also reduced. Note the accuracy may be reduced do to the lower pressure and engagement between the projectile 172 and bore rifling (not shown).

However, referring to FIG. 3D the desired configuration of the present disclosure, commercially available firearm barrel 190′ is provided. Commercially available firearm barrel 190′ comprises a bore 192′, a barrel chamber 194′, and a barrel chamber seat 196′. The barrel chamber seat 196′ has an internal tapered shell casing shoulder (also referred to as an “internal shoulder”) that seals to the tapered shell casing shoulder of shouldered cartridge 170. The internal shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the dual use shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder. The barrel chamber seat 196′ and bore 192′ are configured to properly form a seal sufficient for reliable accuracy; effectively, this is a wildcat cartridge in a firearm configured for the wildcat cartridge.

In one form of the present disclosure, the shouldered cartridge 170 is modified for use with a 9 mm receiver (not shown), with the desire being that the barrel is customized to accurately seat a 0.313 caliber projectile 172 instead of a 9 mm (0.36 inch) diameter projectile 152. The projectile has a 0.313 inch (7.95 mm) outer diameter (O.D.) and would be referred to as a 0.313 caliber projectile. The tapered shell casing 174 is approximately 0.9 inches (22.9 mm) long. The tapered shell casing shoulder 176 has an included angle of 60 degrees (+/−1 degree, with +/−0.5 degrees desired) relative to a central axis of the tapered shell casing 174 between the wide-tapered diameter 178 and the narrow diameter 180. In another form, the included angle is a different acute angle relative to the central axis of the tapered shell casing 174. The wide-tapered diameter 178 has a 0.41-inch (10.5 mm) O.D. Where all diameters and lengths are subject to commercial manufacturing tolerances of +/−0.04 inches (1 mm) with a desired tolerance of +/−0.02 inches (0.5 mm). Enabling the 9 mm firearm to use 0.313-inch diameter projectiles.

In at least one form of the present disclosure a tapered shell casing 174 for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines is provided. The shouldered cartridge 170 comprises an internal cavity for receiving a projectile 172 and defining a tapered shell casing shoulder 176 transitioning into a narrow diameter 180 (reduced diameter neck portion) having an internal diameter from 0.313 inches (7.95 mm), wherein the tapered shell casing shoulder 176 is configured to abut an internal shoulder (the barrel chamber seat 196′ in this form) within a chamber 194′ of the 9 mm firearm.

In yet another form of the present disclosure, a shouldered cartridge 170 for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines is provided. The shouldered cartridge 170 comprises a tapered shell casing comprising a cavity and defining a tapered shell casing shoulder 176 transitioning into a narrow diameter 180 having an internal diameter from 0.313 inches (7.95 mm), a projectile 172 disposed within the cavity and secured therein by the narrow diameter 180, where gunpowder 160′ is disposed within the cavity below the projectile 172, enabling the 9 mm firearm to use 0.313-inch (7.95 mm) diameter projectiles 72.

Although the terms first, second, third, among others may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer and/or section, from another element, component, region, layer and/or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section, could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example forms. Furthermore, an element, component, region, layer or section may be termed a “second” element, component, region, layer or section, without the need for an element, component, region, layer or section termed a “first” element, component, region, layer or section.

Spacially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “below,” “lower,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above or below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.

As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual use shell casing for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines, the dual use shell casing comprising: an upper portion; a lower portion; an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the internal cavity configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile; and a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning into a reduced diameter neck portion, the reduced diameter neck portion having an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.
 2. The dual use shell casing of claim 1, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the dual use shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber.
 3. The dual use shell casing of claim 2, wherein the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the dual use shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder.
 4. The dual use shell casing of claim 1, further comprising a primer pocket, and a flash hole connecting the primer pocket to the internal cavity.
 5. The dual use shell casing of claim 1, wherein the tapered shoulder defines an acute angle relative to a central axis of the dual use shell casing.
 6. The dual use shell casing of claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of the lower portion is greater than a wall thickness of the upper portion.
 7. A dual use cartridge for use in a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines, the dual use cartridge comprising: a tapered shell casing comprising: an upper portion; a lower portion; an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the internal cavity configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile; and a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning into a reduced diameter neck portion, the reduced diameter neck portion having an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, a projectile disposed within the internal cavity at the reduced diameter neck portion and secured therein; and gunpowder disposed within the internal cavity below the projectile, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.
 8. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the tapered shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber.
 9. The dual use cartridge of claim 8, wherein the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder.
 10. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein the lower portion defines a primer pocket.
 11. The dual use cartridge of claim 10, further comprising primer compound disposed in the primer pocket.
 12. The dual use cartridge of claim 11, further comprising a primer cup configured to seal the primer compound in the primer pocket.
 13. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein the lower portion includes a shell casing rim.
 14. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein the gunpowder and the projectile define a gap therebetween.
 15. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein the tapered shoulder defines an acute angle relative to a central axis of the shell casing.
 16. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the projectile is smaller than a diameter of the lower portion.
 17. The dual use cartridge of claim 7, wherein a wall thickness of the lower portion is greater than a wall thickness of the upper portion.
 18. A dual use cartridge configured for use with a 9 mm firearm and for use in 9 mm magazines, the dual use cartridge comprising: a tapered shell casing comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, an internal cavity extending between the upper portion and the lower portion and configured to receive gunpowder and a projectile, a tapered shoulder disposed at the upper portion and transitioning to a reduced diameter neck portion, a primer pocket, and a flash hole connecting the primer pocket to the internal cavity; a projectile disposed within the internal cavity at the reduced diameter neck portion and secured therein; gunpowder disposed within the internal cavity below the projectile; a primer compound disposed in the primer pocket; and a primer cup configured to seal the primer compound in the primer pocket, wherein the reduced diameter neck portion has an inner diameter equal to 0.313 inches, and wherein the tapered shell casing shoulder is configured to abut an internal shoulder within a barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm.
 19. The dual use cartridge of claim 18, wherein the tapered shoulder is configured to regulate a depth to which the tapered shell casing slides into the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm by abutting a barrel chamber seat within the barrel chamber of the 9 mm firearm while the reduced diameter neck portion extends into a bore of the barrel chamber.
 20. The dual use cartridge of claim 19, wherein the tapered shoulder defines an axial length, and the depth to which the shell casing slides into the barrel chamber is determined based on the axial length of the tapered shoulder. 